Espying Camilo's hollow face, there was no awareness of any wrongdoing. It was as if following boys without their knowledge was as casual as waving goodbye. Behind him, past an artificial park, young humans in search for something or someone and the setting sun peeked in between towering hotels, its crimson rays merging with the nascent lights from the awakened streetlamps. Eddying remains of clouds that reached the two boys in a standoff now resembled smoke more than anything else.

  "I don't remember asking you to come," Iker said. There were no esper tricks or cullaways behind those words. Not this time.

  "I don't know why you went cold on me all of the sudden," Camilo said. "I came out because of you. I left Byza because of you. I left da... I left because of you. I left my life because of you. You don't just get to pull away now."

  "Did we have much of a life?" Iker asked. "In like how crazy it was... yea. But in other ways... we didn't get to be kids at all."

  "Childhoods died in the twenty-first century," Camilo said. "Y'know who said that?"

  Iker's perpetual aloofness broke, his lopsided smile was like a little miracle before he finally replied to Camilo. "Me. Did you know the search numbers for the word childhood... kids... kid... child... and so on... actually went to zero a few times this century on the earthplexus? It's like we stopped existing even though we never did. The word baby went up."

  Even though Iker's smile remained steadfast, there was regret inside that last sentence. Dark cloud waves were not passing over both of them as much as the tides of tension were.

  "You think you're funny but you're not," Camilo said with his unchanging face. "You never were funny and you never will be."

  "...okay," Iker replied. It was as if Camilo was waiting for more words, but Iker had nothing more to add.

  Camilo walked forwards.

  "Stay back," Iker commanded.

  "Or what?" Camilo said, finally smiling and not stopping at all. Iker heard chatter from somewhere close. "I know you've always liked me. From before I was famous even."

  "So what?" Iker said. "I don't like you anymore."

  Camilo stopped. "So that's it? So all we did was for nothing?"

  If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

  "No," Iker said. "How could you say that?"

  While Iker struggled processing everything that was being said and done, Camilo took the opportunity close the distance to grab Iker by both his prosthetic and flesh arm.

  "No. Stop."

  "No one has ever said no to me," Camilo whispered.

  Do you think he'll sign this shirt?

  Camilo is around here?

  Where is he?

  Despite wanting it to stop, Iker did not know the extent of his own powers. Distracted by the thought that any small physical reaction could be fatal, Camilo forced his lips onto his, his prying hands grabbing the small of Iker's back before going further down. Further intentions were interrupted by two small crowds trapping them between the generator and the crate.

  Iker shoved Camilo back as the crowds cheered and closed, Camilo resembling someone else.

  Not metaphorically.

  Literally.

  RESETS: 28

  The largest food plaza on Sacrament Street in the Gladness platform had the best hangover food, but there was no need to ask how two teenagers knew that. They were not oblivious to the true purpose of this plaza that was close to the nightlife of Fornia, which was also known for having restaurants and food trucks sharing one massive, cozy, and lavish patio. However, Camilo and Iker were oblivious to something else. Something quite unfathomable.

  "Done," Iker said, aloof as usual.

  "You eat quick," Camilo said, more expressive than usual.

  "I am sorry about earlier," Iker added after a gulp. "There's an Alkrezian place nearby. You know how they are with people like us. They haven't changed much from being Christian or Muslim."

  "Yea I get it," Camilo reassured.

  "I want to go to the park," Iker requested, placing one hand on his tray, his thumb sliding underneath. "A lot of girls recognize you here."

  Camilo shrugged, grabbing his own tray while walking with Iker. Every parasol except for one was down. Earlier Camilo and Iker agreed to meet around six, and now it had to be around seven or eight with the sky losing its blue hue and the patio's orange booths, seats and couches seeming browner under the waning sunlight. Iker did not know the specific time because he wanted to keep his attention on Camilo rather than checking his own or another random hologram.

  "Just kiss already," a group of girls said behind them, erupting in laughter afterwards. And autopilot took over, causing Iker to throw his entire food tray into the trash bin, getting them to laugh even harder. Camilo tried to restrain his laughter but he could not help it.

  "Baby!" Iker yelled while slapping his own face.

  "What did you just call me?" Camilo asked with a raised brow. He threw his arm over Iker's shoulder to walk away from the girls that were trying to settle down.

  "You didn't hear anything," Iker said, his face managing to flush past his dark olive skin.

  "Don't call me that... but you can call me something else," Camilo said with a chuckle, now both of them walking towards the sidewalk of Sacrament Street.

  "Papi?"

  "Too soon."

  "Babe?"

  "Yea. We can settle on that."